Reviews with content warning for Death - What You Wish for

Reviews tagging 'Death'

What You Wish for by Katherine Center

36 reviews

2catmom's review against another edition

I love the audiobook reader. I wanted to love this book.
When she talk to the guy at the beach and had that awful conversation, and then started crushing on him, despite the fact that he turned her beautiful school into a prison and painted over to murals and held her in his arms…. Gag gag gag. It’s not even believable for a fantasy or sci-fi book. I just lost all interest. Other authors do the enemies to friends troupe better. Way better.

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n_heraty's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring medium-paced

3.5

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readingwithmeredith's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Characters: 3

Connection to the book/Enjoyment: 4

Setting: 4

Plot/Overall Story: 4

Writing: 4

Every point= 0.25 stars, max per category 4 points

What a unique and emotional story! I laughed, I audibly gasped, I teared up, and just fell in love with this story. It was so much deeper of a story than I expected and I really enjoyed it. The only thing was that a few moments I really got mad at the characters and their choices and that kept it from being a 5 star read, but it definitely was a great book. Definitely some heavier themes in this that are spoilers.

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yesdnil's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What You Wish For surprised me. Despite initially appearing to be a formulaic love story, the book had a surprising amount of heart, hope, inspiration, and a plot twist or two.

Sam's reflections on joy and her desire to help Duncan move past his trauma/PTSD was life-affirming (despite bordering on Instagram-quote-vibes):

"...joy was the cure for everything. And the more I learned about how it worked, the more I felt like joy was cumulative. That it wasn't about finding one big thing--but about collecting as many tiny pieces as you could."

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nadiamasood's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is an uplifting and heartwarming story of friendship, love, found family, taking risks, pursuit of happiness, healing from trauma, living with a chronic health condition, education, and PTSD.

While the romance is OTT, I loved the school setting and the eccentric and quirky characters!

This is the kind of book you read simply for the pure pleasure of reading. The narration by Thérèse Plummer made this audiobook such a pleasure to listen to!

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tiqualovett's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What You Wish For by Katherine Center was delightful read. As usual, Center has managed to bring this reader through a wide range of emotions. From annoyance to anger and from sad to joyful, this reader felt it all.

What You Wish For was a very heartwarming and uplifting novel that seamlessly blended humor, romance, and self-discovery into a sweet story. Center crafts a compelling narrative around Samantha Casey, a school librarian, whose life takes unexpected turns when the new school principal, Duncan Carpenter, arrives. The characters are beautifully developed, each with their quirks and vulnerabilities, making them relatable and endearing. The story explores themes of resilience, personal growth, and the power of embracing change. Center's writing style is engaging, with a perfect balance of wit and emotion that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

The setting of the novel, the small coastal town of Galveston, adds charm and a sense of community to the story. The pacing was well-executed, allowing for a smooth progression of the plot while building tension and anticipation. The author tackles serious issues with sensitivity, infusing the narrative with a positive and hopeful outlook. "What You Wish For" is a delightful read that will resonate with those who appreciate a mix of laughter, love, and the transformative power of second chances.

This reader really enjoyed watching the characters learn and grow, as individuals and as a team. It was fun to follow the characters through the rough times and the joyous moments.

This reader did not enjoy the fact that Sam was so hopelessly obsessed with Duncan. This was off-putting for the first 25% of the book. However, as the book progressed, this seemed to work itself out to be more bearable. Several of the characters, including Tina and Kent Buckley, were almost overwhelmingly too much at the very beginning of this book.

This reader did really enjoy the pacing of the story and how Center was able to draw her readers into every intended emotion.

In summary, Katherine Center's "What You Wish For" is a delightful gem that earns a solid four-star rating. With its well-developed characters, engaging writing style, and uplifting themes, this novel is a perfect choice for readers seeking a feel-good story with depth and heart. Center has once again proven her ability to craft compelling tales that leave a lasting impression.

Definitely a 4 star read. Medium pacing, good character development, good story progression.

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